Ca Maria Adele

THIS 16TH CENTURY CANALSIDE PALAZZO turned boutique hotel in the Dorsoduro area is one of our fabulous favourites in Venice. Views over the domes of Santa Maria della Salute church are just the start at Ca Maria Adele: you can glide up to the door on a gondola to be met by charismatic style and luxury.

Venetian wooden raftered ceilings contrast with a stripped-down minimalist look and African wood in the lobby. White marble is reflected in majestic Murano glass chandeliers and all 14 of Ca Maria Adele's light-suffused bedrooms are boutique heaven. Mounds of inviting pillows and duvets are even washed in a mountain laundry outside Venice to get that special Alpine freshness. Most have kingsize beds, waterfall showers and spacious walk-in wardrobes.

Five ‘concept’ rooms fusing opulence and simplicity invite you to immerse yourself in Venetian fantasy. The Doge’s Room, dripping in rich red brocade, is for the master of the city – if your lady fancies playing mistress.

Black glass chandeliers

Sala dei Mori was inspired by the Moors, while the Sala Orientale flaunts golds and blues. Sala Noire's decadent black and chocolate shades recall the old Venetian spice routes – all voluptuous colours and rich scents under a black Murano glass chandelier. You can always cool off on the private roof terrace later.

Enjoy sundowners or uncork a bottle of prosecco on Ca Maria Adele's oriental terrace, with its piles of silk cushions and Moroccan lanterns. The setting for breakfast is just as enticing, and you'll have the chance to meet fellow guests around the big table.

Location-wise, you have the best of all worlds here – peaceful and crowd-free streets outside and with all the wonders of Venice just a gondola ride away. You’re just five minutes from St Mark’s Square and Santa Maria della Salute church, whose silhouetted domes dominate the Venetian skyline at dusk.

© Room for Romance